Ironwood man donates hundreds of model war planes

By P.J. GLISSON

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Ironwood - Robert Sertic of Ironwood is 88 and still going strong, but he's already left a legacy in relation to a decades-long hobby.

Sertic recently donated 270 model planes to Michigan Technological University.

"They have an Air Force ROTC program," said Sertic in explaining the school's interest.

He added that his daughter, Sue Pertile, also of Ironwood, put an ad out regarding the planes and MTU happened to answer it.

"My daughter and her husband brought them up there, which was a hard job," said Sertic, who hopes that the planes will help other people to learn about history without even having to read.

"They're plastic model - 1:43 scale," he said, adding that they represent aircraft from World War I and World War II, as well as some jets.

As for why he started building the planes about 50 years ago, Sertic said the inspiration was simply "winter time."

Over the years, his handiwork collected within showcases in the lower level of his home. If grandchildren had been able to access them, he said, "It wouldn't take them long to bust them all up."

A small number of the planes have been reserved as keepsakes for family and friends.

Sertic was born in Ramsay and spent 3 years in the Marine Corps from 1954-57, based in California.

During that time, he married his wife, Nancy, on Aug. 24, 1955.

"We went to school together in Ironwood," he said.

Regarding why they resulted as a team, he chuckled and said only, "She was a girl, and I was a boy. We ended up getting married, and that was it."

He added of their nearly 70-year-old union, "It's a pretty good time."

In addition to their daughter, they also have a son, Michael Sertic, in Tennessee and seven grandchildren. One of them, Max Pertile, studied at MTU.

Sertic retired from UPS after 18 years of employment there. In earlier years, he also had worked in the Penokee Iron Ore Mine and with a conservation pipeline.

"So we're taking it easy now," he said of himself and his wife.

Another hobby of Sertic's is wood carving.

He said he carves "animals of all different kinds" from wood, and they are displayed throughout their house, although he also has given some to relatives.

"They are beautiful," said his daughter, who describes her father as "one of a kind."

MTU students have shown appreciation for Sertic's donation by creating a variety of displays for the model planes.

They also sent him a card with a photo of a fighter plane on front.

Inside the card is the following typed message: "Thank you for all the intricate model planes. They are an amazing addition to Detachment 400 and will be well valued."

Filling up the rest of the card are numerous signatures of students with comments such as the following:

"Had a lot of fun putting them on display." - Jacob Ojala

"They look awesome." - Tad Rowe

"The model planes add great character to our ROTC building." - Kirsten Meyers

"We absolutely love them." - Charis Bronson